Keep the Kale and Hand Over the Cake, Please

home insemination Kit

I have a seemingly endless list of “shoulds.” I should spend more time reading with my kids. I should cut down on their screen time. I should be quizzing them on math facts more often, scrubbing the toilets with greater frequency, and maybe even grooming my eyebrows a bit more. The list goes on.

At the top of this mountain of shoulds: Eat healthier. My pantry should be stocked with granola, not chips. My fridge should overflow with apples instead of cheese. Dinners should consist of quinoa rather than pizza.

But you know what? Forget the shoulds—and the quinoa, too.

Tonight’s dinner, like most weeknights, was a mishmash of leftovers and random pantry finds. My husband and kids dined on cheeseburgers while I opted for a black bean burger. We munched on baby carrots, sliced up a nearly overripe avocado, and topped it all off with half a bag of barbecue kettle chips.

Admittedly, our meal broke nearly every rule on the health list, and I can practically hear the judgmental murmurs from folks who are patting themselves on the back for their oh-so-noble choices. But honestly? I couldn’t care less.

Sure, most of what we eat is (kind of) healthy, and we keep ourselves relatively active. My husband and I work out regularly, and our kids are busy swimming, playing sports, and biking around the neighborhood. Overall, we’re doing alright.

Yet, we also really enjoy junk food. No matter how hard I try, that’s not changing anytime soon—regardless of how many times I hear that coconut water is a miracle elixir, kale is the key to superhuman strength, and açaí berries are magical little gems. Because here’s the thing: junk food brings me joy in a way that those superfoods just don’t.

Honestly, I can’t relate to someone who thinks a treat is a brownie made with prunes or who never succumbs to a binge on Oreos. A few years back, I visited a friend’s house and noticed a bowl of Halloween candy on her counter. Not the leftover scraps, mind you—this bowl was filled with Nestlé Crunch bars, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kats, and Butterfingers. The good stuff!

I was amazed. Who can ignore a bowl of candy for a month? What kind of mythical creature is this who can gaze at Peanut Butter Cups without diving in? She was probably the same woman who wore her pre-pregnancy jeans home from the hospital.

Well, I’m definitely not that woman.

I genuinely try to eat well—really! I make sure my kids’ plates have at least one item from the produce section (whether or not they actually eat it is a whole other story). Plus, being vegetarian means I consume a fair share of veggies alongside an abundance of cereal and potato chips. My current diet could be summarized as simple carbs and a dash of hope.

Sometimes my husband and I chat about improving our “should” list. He worries that our kids’ eating habits are slipping, and I panic—not because I’m concerned about their complaints over healthier meals, but because I know I’ll be the one whining the loudest.

We all understand that moderation is crucial—balance is key. So, occasionally I plan out nutritious dinners, while other times we swing by McDonald’s and I indulge in cookie dough in the bathroom. Parenting is hard, folks. And I’m exhausted.

While junk food might not be a superfood, it certainly possesses superpowers. A spoonful of cookie dough feels like a warm hug and a pep talk all in one. A fluffernutter sandwich conjures up childhood joys. French fries dipped in ice cream taste like defiant freedom. And on especially tough days, a bowl of Doritos sums up all my frustrations.

Frankly, a life without junk food, chocolate, and candy is one I’m not interested in living. After overcoming an eating disorder that stripped joy from food for years, I truly value the pleasure food brings—even if it’s a bit (or a lot) of junk.

Of course, I want my kids to adopt healthy eating habits and I attempt to model a balanced lifestyle. But I also want them to experience the delight of chocolate melting in their mouths and the joy of orange-stained fingers from Cheetos. There are far more important things on my parenting priority list than maintaining a diet devoid of trans fats and artificial colors. Sometimes you have to choose your battles, cut yourself some slack, and let go of the shoulds. When you’ve got limited energy to spare, a junk food-free diet is often the first thing to go. Plus, I don’t want to hide in the bathroom just to enjoy a Chewy Chips Ahoy! cookie (or five). I’d rather share that bag with my kids and savor those moments together.

I admit, our family could definitely benefit from eating healthier. We’re all trying. But life is short, parenting is challenging, and you better believe I hand out Pop-Tarts and Eggo waffles when we’re racing out the door to keep everyone sane.

Summary

In this candid reflection on parenting and food choices, the author challenges the pressures of healthy eating norms. While acknowledging the importance of moderation, she highlights the joy that junk food brings to her family amidst the chaos of daily life. Ultimately, the piece emphasizes that while striving for health is important, enjoying treats together is equally valuable in creating cherished family memories.